Li-ion Battery To Be Developed For GM

Anthony Fontanelle
August 23, 2007

In the constant search by automakers to come up with a car that will appease the general public, they have started the race to come up with the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid car.

Leading the pack are the two biggest automakers Toyota and General Motors. Both of these automakers have met a roadblock in the development of a practical PHEV. This is the development of a battery pack that can be recharged and store enough energy to power a vehicle for miles.

Although lithium-ion is being heralded as the key to a successful PHEV, automakers are still stumped on how to make Li-ion batteries safe enough for automotive application. Li-ion batteries are currently widely used in different electronic equipments such as mobile phones and laptop computers. But using one for automobiles entails much risk. The constant vibration of a vehicle during operation can seriously damage a Li-ion battery pack which could then result to accidents.

General Motors recently announced that they will be partnering with A123Systems Inc., one of the world’s foremost developer and supplier of high-power lithium-ion batteries. The battery that the partnership will be aiming to develop is expected to be safe enough for it to be used in an automobile.

According to the automaker, they are looking to use the patent pending Nanophospate technology developed by A123Systems Inc. in the development of a PHEV. The Chevy Volt is expected to be the first General Motors vehicle that will be given a plug-in hybrid powertrain with the powerful lithium-ion battery that they are developing.

Today, General Motors has a variety of hybrid vehicles competing with Asian-made hybrids. The automaker is making a bid to become one of the most notable automaker in terms of production of eco-friendly vehicles. The Detroit automaker is currently offering hybrids such as the Saturn Aura Green Line which uses auto parts as reliable as Saturn ION parts. Other hybrids such as the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids are still to be released.

Bob Lutz, the GM vice chairman of Global Product Development, has this to say following the announcement: “Breakthrough battery technology will drive future automotive propulsion, and the company that aligns with the best strategic partners will win. That’s what is so important about this deal. Whether you’re talking about the Chevy Volt, a fuel cell or even a plug-in hybrid such as our planned Saturn Vue, we need to understand the fundamental battery cell performance.”

“The Chevy Volt will lead the automotive industry in a new direction. We see a future where vehicles run on electricity and are equipped with clever ways of making electricity on board, making us less dependent on gasoline. It's the next great paradigm shift in our industry, an opportunity largely due to the rapid advancement in battery cell technology by companies such as A123Systems and LG Chem.”

A123Systems Inc.’s CEO Dave Vieau is looking forward to the use of the Li-ion battery not only on the Chevy Volt but also on other modes of transportation. “We’re talking today about the Volt and implications that it will have on the electrification of passenger vehicles, but the technology goes a lot further than that,” he said. “The weight, size, safety and performance of these batteries have implications on all transportation, including hybrid buses, trucks and aircraft.”

Source:  Amazines.com